Forward and reverse steering device for jet boat control



M- S. SMITH May 10, 1966 F WARD AND REVERSE STEERING DEVICE FOR JETBOAT'GONTROL /3\heets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2,

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INVENTOR. MORLEY S. SMITH M. 5. SMITH May 10, 1966 FOWARD AND REVERSESTEERING DEVICE FOR JET BOAT CONTROL Filed Aug. 5

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United States Patent FORWARD AND REVERSE STEERING DEVIQE F OR JET BOATCGN'TRQL Morley S. Smith, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to The BuehlerCorporation, Indianapolis, End, a corporation of Indiana Filed Aug. 5,1963, Ser. No. 229,869 Claims. (Cl. 239-26527) The present inventionrelates to jet propelled watercraft and more particularly to means for"controlling the direction of such craft.

One form of water jet propelled boat incorporates an engine arranged todrive a pump located within a conduit through the boat. Water moves intothe conduit through an intake opening at the bottom of the boat, isforced through the conduit by the pump and is exhausted in a stream fromthe rear of the boat whereby the boat moves through the water. In orderto move the boat rearwardly, the stream of water may be deflected as itleaves the rear of the boat in such a manner as to cause the stream toflow forwardly beneath the boat. In some applications, it is desirableto close off or bottle up the stream whereby the water pressure producedby the pump can be used for fire fighting or for other purposes such asa chlorination spray or a plant spray.

Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a jetboat direction control which can be used to bottle up the jet stream toprovide water pressure for fire fighting and other purposes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a jet boatdirection control which is relatively simple to operate and onlyrequires one mechanism for steering and one mechanism for thrustdirection.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a jet boatdirection control which provides full steering at all reverse as well asforward speeds Still another object of the invention is to provide a jetboat direction control which can be conveniently operated to cause theboat to retain position while a portion of the output of the pump isbeing used to fight a fire or the like.

Certain presently available direction controls use the balanced flowconcept of neutral. That is, the flow is balanced in such a manner thata portion of the jet flows forward and a portion flows rearward wherebythe total front and rear thrust is zero. It has been found that suchbalanced flow direction controls do not balance the steering forces atthe same setting at which front and rear thrust is balanced whichresults in an incomplete neutral. A further object of the invention isto provide a jet boat direction control which incorporates a neutral orno thrust position wherein steering forces are also balanced.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a direction controlsystem for watercraft comprising a conduit mounted on the craft andincluding a wall generally perpendicular to the conduit, said conduithaving an upper exit opening and a downwardly spaced lower exit opening,both through said wall, means for pumping Water through said conduittoward said lower exit opening, a gate received within said conduit, andmeans for moving said gate across said wall to positions wherein saidgate covers both of said exit openings or covers only one of saidopenings, a tubular member pivotally mounted on said conduit with itsforward end in alignment with said lower exit opening, said conduitfurther including a passage leading from said upper exit opening anddividing into two horizontally spaced passages each "ice of which leadsdownwardly on opposite sides of said tubular conduit and opensdownwardly at a lower jet discharge opening, a horizontal element, aplurality of parallel deflectors fixed to said element and curvingdownwardly then forwardly, said element and deflectors being fixed tosaid tubular conduit for pivoting therewith, said element beingpositioned within said lower jet discharge opening for controlling thewater exiting therefrom.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a jet boat incorporating the noveldirection control system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of the direction control system ofthe jet boat of FIG. 1 with a portion of FIG. 2 in section taken alongthe line 2-2 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the jet hoat direction control of FIG. 2with a portion of FIG. 3 in section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 inthe direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of FIGv 2 in thedirection of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated ajet boat 10 having a hull 11, the hull being provided with an intakeopening 12 communicating between the bottom of the boat and a pump 13.The pump 13 has a passage therethrough communicating between the intakeopening 12 and a passage 15 defined by a lip 27 formed on casting 26.The pump 13 is driven by a conventional marine engine 17 through shaft18 and functions to pump waterfrorn the intake 12 to and out of the rearof the boat. The water is formed into a jet stream by the convergingsurface 20 of an annular member 21 fixed within the passage 15.

The casting 26 is fixed to the transom 25 of the boat and is providedwith a vertically extending interior 30, the passage 15 opening into thevertically extending interior. The casting has a further lip or collar31 which receives a sleeve 32. Between the sleeve and the lip 31 is anO-ring 35 which is positioned within inwardly opening recess 36 in thelip 31. The O-ring prevents leakage of water out of the interior 30 ofthe casting into the boat.

The shaft 37 is rotatable within bearings 40. Fixed to the end of theshaft 37 is a radially extending arm 41 which is rotatably secured to anarm 42 by a pin 43. The arm 42 is rotatably secured about the axis 45 toa circular disc gate 46. Rotation of the shaft 37 causes the gate 46 tobe raised and lowered within the interior 30, the gate being guided bythe vertically extending inwardly facing walls 47 of the interior 30.

The interior 30 has two outlets or exits, an upper exit 56 which isgenerally half-moon in shape and a lower circular exit 51. The upperexit 50 leads into a passage 52 which divides into two passages 53. Thetwo passages 53 are horizontally spaced and extend outwardly anddownwardly around a tubular conduit 55. The two passages 53 termintebelow the tubular conduit 55 and within a part-circular jet dischargeopening 56 defined by a depending circular lip 57.

Positioned within the discharge opening 56 is a part circular orC-shaped member or element 60 having hori zontally extending deflectors61 formed integrally therewith. The deflectors 61 curve first downwardlyand then forwardly. The member 60 and the deflectors'61 form a cascadecontrol 62 which deflects the water exiting from the outlet 56 forwardlybeneath the bottom 65 of the boat. The cascade control 62 is formedintegrally 3 with a vertically extending shaft 66 which projects intoand is fixed to the tubular conduit 55. The shaft 66 is received withina bearing 67 secured to the casting 26. .Thus, the. shaft 66 provides alower pivotal mounting for the tubular conduit 55 as well as a means forpivoting the cascade control 62.

The outlet 51 of the interior 30 has a tubular lip 70 therearound. Thelip 70 projects rearwardly and is flush with the rear wall 73 of thecasting 26 at the portion 71 and 72. The upper portion of thetubularconduit 55 is fixed to a shaft 75 which projects upwardly through abearing 76 to a further bearing 77. The tubular conduit 55 is pivoted bymeans of the shaft 75 which is controlled by suitable steering meanswithin the boat.

A rubber ring 80 is receive-d about the tubular conduit 55 within asuitable recess 81. The purpose of the rubber ring is to prevent leakageof water past the tubular conduit 55. It will be noted from FIGS. 2 and3 that the" inner surfaces 82 of the casting are formed in a generallycylindrical shape so that the ring 80 rides thereacross as the tubularconduit 55 is pivoted about the axis of the shaft 66 and 75.

When the disc gate 46 is in the uppermost position of FIGS. 4 and 5, thewater from the pump flows directly through the interior 30 through theopening 51 so that it can be controlled by the tubular conduit 55. Suchcontrol is, of course, accomplished by pivoting of the shaft 75 wherebysteering of the boat is accomplished by deflecting of the jet stream tothe right or the left.

If the disc gate 46 is lowered so as to cover the openings 50 and 51,the jet stream is bottled up and water under pressure fills the interior30 of the casting. When the device is in this condition, the waterpressure can be used for fire fighting and similar purposes. When thedisc gate 46 is in its lowermost position covering the opening 51 anduncovering the opening 50, water flows through the passage 52 outwardlyand downwardly through the passages 53, thence through the jet dischargeopening 56 where it is deflected by the cascade control 62. It can beappreciated that the boat can be steered by means of the water passingthrough the cascade control and with exactly the same controls as areused to control the tubular conduit 55.

From the above description, it will be evident that the presentinvention provides an improve-d jet boat direction control which can beused to bottle up the jet stream to provide water pressure for firefighting and other purposes. It will also be evident that the presentinvention provides an improved control which is relatively simple andonly requires one mechanism for steering and one for thrust direction.Because of the fact that the present control can be operated tocompletely close off both the forward opening and the re verse opening,a no-thrust position can be provided which.

is a complete neutral and does not rely upon a balancing of flow toproduce a zero thrust.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and including a generally perpendicular wall, saidconduit having an upper exit opening and a downwardly spaced lower exitopening both through said wall, means for pumping water through saidconduit toward said lower exit opening, a gate received within saidconduit, and means for moving said gate across said wall to positionswherein said gate covers both of said exit openings or covers only oneof ,said openings, a tubular member having its forward end in alignmentwith said lower exit opening, said conduit further including a furtherportion having a passage leading from said upper exit opening anddividing into two horizontally spaced passages each of which leadsdownwardly on opposite sides of said tubular member and opens downwardlyat a part circular lower jet discharge opening, a pair of shafts eachpinned to said tubular member, said shafts projecting from said tubularmember one upwardly and one downwardly, said shafts being pivotallymounted on said conduit, a flexible seal secured to and surrounding saidtubular member, said further portion having a curved inwardly facingwall against which said seal rides upon pivoting of said tubular memberwhereby 'leakage around said tubular member is sealed off, a horizontalC-shaped element, a plurality of parallel deflectors fixed to saidelement and curving downwardly then forwardly, said element anddeflectors being fixed to said downwardly projecting shaft for pivotingtherewith, said element being. positioned within said lower jetdischarge opening for controlling the water exiting therefrom.

2. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and including a generally perpendicular wall, saidconduit having an upper exit opening and a downwardly spaced lower exitopening both through said wall, means for pumping water through saidconduit toward said lower exit opening, a gate received within saidconduit, and means for moving said gate across said wall to positionswherein said gate covers both of said exit openings or covers only oneof said openings, a tubular member having its forward end in alignmentwith said lower exit opening, said conduit further including a furtherportion having a passage leading from said upper exit opening anddividing into two horizontally spaced passages each of which leadsdownwardly on opposite sides of said tubular member and opens downwardlyat a part circular lower jet discharge opening, a pair of shafts eachpinned to said tubular member, said shafts projecting from said tubularmember one upwardly and one downwardly, said shafts being pivotallymounted on said conduit, a horizontal C-shaped element, a plurality ofparallel deflectors fixed to said element and curving downwardly thenforwardly, said element and deflectors being fixed to said downwardlyprojecting shaft for pivoting therewith, said element being positionedwithin said lower jet discharge opening for controlling the waterexiting therefrom.

3. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and including a generally perpendicular wall, saidconduit having an upper exit opening and a downwardly spaced lower exitopening both through said wall, means for pumping water through saidconduit toward said lower'exit opening, a gate received within saidconduit, and means for moving said gate across said wall to positionswherein said gate covers both of said exit openings or covers only oneof said openings, a tubular member pivotally mounted on said conduitwith its forward end in alignment with said lower exit opening, saidconduit further including apassage leading from said upper exit openingand dividing into two horizontally spaced passages each of which leadsdownwardly on opposite sides of said tubular member and opens downwardlyat a part circular lower jet discharge opening, a horizontal C-shapedelement, a plurality of parallel deflectors fixed to said element andcurving downwardly then forwardly, said element and deflectors beingfixed to said tubular member for pivoting therewith, said element beingpositioned within said lower jet discharge opening for controlling thewater exiting therefrom.

4. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and having an exit opening, means for pumping waterthrough said conduit, a tubular member pivotally mounted on said conduitwith its forward end in alignment with said exit opening, a

housing defining a passage means leading from said conduit and dividinginto two horizontally spaced passages each of which leads downwardly onopposite sides of said tubular member and opens downwardly at a partcircular lower jet discharge opening, means for diverting the water fromsaid exit opening into said passage means, a horizontal C-shapedelement, a plurality of parallel deflectors fixed to said element andcurving downwardly then forwardly, said element and deflectors beingfixed to said tubular member for pivoting therewith, said element beingpositioned within said lower jet discharge opening for controlling thewater exiting therefrom.

5. A direction control system for watercraft comprising a conduitmounted on the craft and having an exit opening, means for pumping waterthrough said conduit, a tubular member pivotally mounted on said conduitwith its forward end in alignment with said exit opening, a

housing defining a passage means leading from said conduit and dividinginto two horizontally spaced passages each of which leads downwardly onopposite sides of said tubular member and opens downwardly at a lowerjet discharge opening, a set of downwardly and forwardly curvingdeflectors positioned within said lower jet discharge opening and fixedto said tubular member for pivoting therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,030,909 4/1962Barnes et a1. 11512 3,084,509 4/1963 Parsons 60-3555 3,146,588 9/1964Reynolds et a1 6035.S4

MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

4. A DIRECTION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WATERCRAFT COMPRISING A CONDUITMOUNTED ON THE CRAFT AND HAVING A EXIT OPENING, MEANS FOR PUMPING WATERTHROUGH SAID CONDUIT, A TUBULAR MEMBER PIVOALLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONDUITWITH ITS FORWARD END IN ALIGNMENT WITH SEAID EXIT OPENING, A HOUSINGDEFINING A PASSAGE MEANS LEADING FROM SAID CONDUIT AND DIVIDING INTO TWOHORIZONTALLY SPACED PASSAGES EACH OF WHICH LEADS DOWNWARDLY ON OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND OPENS DOWNWARDLY AT A PART CIRCULARLOWER JET DISCHARGE OPENING, MEANS FOR DIVERTING THE WATER FROM SAIDEXIT OPENING INTO SAID PASSAGE MEANS, A HORIZONTAL C-SHAPED ELEMENT, APLURALITY OF PARALLEL DEFLECTORS FIXED TO SAID ELEMENT AND CURVINGDOWNWARDLY THEN FORWARDLY, SAID ELEMENT AND DEFLECTORS BEING FIXED TOSAID TUBULAR MEMBER FOR PIVOTING THEREWITH, SAID ELEMENT BEINGPOSITIONED WITHIN SAID LOWER JET DISCHARGE OPENING FOR CONTROLLING THEWATER THEREFROM.